Meyer Sound Laboratories, Inc.

When "Top Gear Live" arrived at Oslo's 15,000-capacity Telenor Arena for three days of adrenaline-fuelled motoring spectacle, LEO-M and LYON linear line array loudspeakers from Meyer Sound provided high-impact audio support. "Top Gear Live" is a theatrical adaptation of the popular BBC show, engaging audiences with its trademark blend of quirky humor and rip-roaring car races, stunts, and explosions.

"The system performed perfectly, and the coverage from the LEO and LYON arrays was exceptional in every seat," says Theis Romme, system designer and audio project manager for Victory Tour Production, principal audio supplier for the shows. "The sound quality of the music tracks and effects supported the visual spectacle, while the vocal clarity brought out the unique personalities of the hosts."

An elongated, U-shaped audience area was covered by six arrays of eight LYON loudspeakers each. Four arrays of eight LEO-M loudspeakers each were aimed at the end seating areas, with 18 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements flown in the center of the arena. The fill systems comprised 24 MINA line array loudspeakers for front fill and 14 UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers. System drive and optimization came from a Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management system with one Galileo Callisto 616 AES and four Galileo Callisto 616 array processors plus two Galileo 408 processors. A separate cue system for the lighting technician included two MM-4XP loudspeakers and one MM-10 subwoofer.

FOH was mixed on a DiGiCo SD8 digital console, while the hosts used ten channels of Shure Axient wireless microphones with BETA58 handheld transmitters and bodypacks coupled to DPA 4088 headworn microphones. In-ear monitoring was carried over six channels from a Sennheiser SR 2050 wireless transmitter to 30 receivers.

"Top Gear Live" has been on the road since 2008. Hosts for both the live spectacles and the television series—seen by an estimated 350 million viewers in 170 countries—are Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.

"Top Gear Live" promotional video:

January, 2015